Dr Mark Hayes faces claims of a conflict of interest over IVF

A YORK health boss has explained why he did not vote in a crucial decision over IVF - and has said he will oppose such a postcode lottery if elected as MP.

Dr Mark Hayes, chief clinical officer of the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), has publicly said he wishes to end a situation in which York is the only area in the country not to offer IVF.

But he did not cast a vote in favour of providing IVF treatment after governing members of the CCG suggested the Labour candidate for Selby and Ainsty may be seen to be playing for votes. A narrow 5-4 vote then saw commissioners backtrack on a decision to allow a cycle of IVF because it cannot afford the service.

Dr Hayes yesterday dismissed calls from Conservative MP Julian Smith for his resignation due to a conflict of interest, saying he did not anticipate that another situation would arise where he would have to abstain from a vote or decision-making process.

But he did add that he will campaign against the injustice of a postcode lottery should he become an MP.

Dr Hayes said: “We have a National Health Service and it’s a shame when it isn’t national. The postcode lottery is the counter to the founding principles of the NHS. When it was set up, they did not imagine you could get a service in one place in the country and not the other.”

A new deputy chief clinical officer was due to be appointed who would be able to step in should a further conflict of interest arise, he said, adding that he had the support of CCG colleagues who have tried “really hard to do the right thing”.

Dr Hayes has also said that had he voted in favour of the treatment, chairman of the CCG, Professor Alan Maynard would have had the casting vote.

Prof Maynard confirmed to The Press he would have voted against the provision, believing it to be a prudent financial decision.

* A petition to allow couples in the Vale of York one cycle of IVF had yesterday gathered some 750 comments.

Among the latest to have signed, one person wrote: “All couples should be given at least one try at IVF, it’s unfair it comes down to a postcode lottery”.

Another said: “Disgusting that this is a postcode lottery! Affecting many people who are already going through a very difficult time.”

How many more people will be disadvantaged because of your impotent vote.

Either make sure you can fully commit to the job your doing or leave, people deserve better than you can seemingly contribute.

How many more people will be disadvantaged because of your impotent vote.
Either make sure you can fully commit to the job your doing or leave, people deserve better than you can seemingly contribute.Fanny Free House

Story here is there none. A prospective MP tries to remove himself from a highly political decision, which is quite the decent thing to do, and gets attacked by the tories. Sleeze was a word invented to describe Tories.

Story here is there none. A prospective MP tries to remove himself from a highly political decision, which is quite the decent thing to do, and gets attacked by the tories. Sleeze was a word invented to describe Tories.BethFoxhunter96

What is it with people and free speech, Julian Smith jumping on the (Old Boy) member of a a political Party, spouting of. It does seem in the backward state of affairs that Politicians know more that any Professional qualified member of the UK. If the IVF is in anyway cost effective then why not, and again York seems to be against odds with the rest of UK .

What is it with people and free speech, Julian Smith jumping on the (Old Boy) member of a a political Party, spouting of. It does seem in the backward state of affairs that Politicians know more that any Professional qualified member of the UK. If the IVF is in anyway cost effective then why not, and again York seems to be against odds with the rest of UK .Dave Ruddock

For someone that 'abstained' from a vote on IVF treatment on the basis of facts and figures is quite poor.

But the success rates for IVF are quite poor 1 in 4 without any medical problems. One cycle would seem reasonable to me provided that all the relevant tests including genetics, baseline hormones including pituitary function tests, bleeding and clotting factors and autoimmune disease and tests for anti-glycoprotein B1 are tested for prior to any treatment and relevant treatment strategies adopted rather than the current non-treatment and lack of thought as to why.

However the original rules in relation to sex were ridiculous and an invasion of privacy.

Mental health services in York are a shamble as is IVF.

I, myself, have had complications from IVF PGD which I should NOT have had and should have had a whole load of preliminary investigations, incidentally only had pituitary function tests in 2014 which were grossly abnormal. I just wished a doctor other than the people wanting to write a paper and someone sensible like my mother (a doctor) said don't do it because of this, this and this. My risks were far greater than quoted, the risk also increases because of age ovarian decrease. Stupid to think I spent 10 years thinking about it. I just relied on the stuff that was being said by genetic specialists that it was the right way to go.

I truly wish I had adopted and still been in work and save all the haste. There are 110 children on the adopting waiting lists ands 110 people on the IVF list. Whilst you are on the former, you can't go on the later, in the mean time your ticking age clock goes on and so the chances of adoption. And end up with none.

For someone that 'abstained' from a vote on IVF treatment on the basis of facts and figures is quite poor.
But the success rates for IVF are quite poor 1 in 4 without any medical problems. One cycle would seem reasonable to me provided that all the relevant tests including genetics, baseline hormones including pituitary function tests, bleeding and clotting factors and autoimmune disease and tests for anti-glycoprotein B1 are tested for prior to any treatment and relevant treatment strategies adopted rather than the current non-treatment and lack of thought as to why.
However the original rules in relation to sex were ridiculous and an invasion of privacy.
Mental health services in York are a shamble as is IVF.
I, myself, have had complications from IVF PGD which I should NOT have had and should have had a whole load of preliminary investigations, incidentally only had pituitary function tests in 2014 which were grossly abnormal. I just wished a doctor other than the people wanting to write a paper and someone sensible like my mother (a doctor) said don't do it because of this, this and this. My risks were far greater than quoted, the risk also increases because of age ovarian decrease. Stupid to think I spent 10 years thinking about it. I just relied on the stuff that was being said by genetic specialists that it was the right way to go.
I truly wish I had adopted and still been in work and save all the haste. There are 110 children on the adopting waiting lists ands 110 people on the IVF list. Whilst you are on the former, you can't go on the later, in the mean time your ticking age clock goes on and so the chances of adoption. And end up with none.Digeorge

Shame on you. If you can't make a decision then resign.
Backtracking on a previous decision by the Vale of York CCG, making it the only place in the country not to fund even one IVF treatment is bad enough, but not having the courage of your conviction just proves you are of no value whatsoever as a member of the CCG. All you have demonstrated is that you are suitable material to stand for parliament! Resign!

Shame on you. If you can't make a decision then resign.
Backtracking on a previous decision by the Vale of York CCG, making it the only place in the country not to fund even one IVF treatment is bad enough, but not having the courage of your conviction just proves you are of no value whatsoever as a member of the CCG. All you have demonstrated is that you are suitable material to stand for parliament! Resign!Basher69

I would also like to correct the non-sense about the only place in the UK not to offer IVF.

There are three places to be precise and they are not in Yorkshire.

Plus 'playing with people's lives', there is other options including adoption plus the problems with IVF anyway. Ask a neurologist, they will tell you.

So again the Press, not getting the facts right from the start as to why, there have been many failures and the financial cost in the long term probably outweighs the benefits.

I would also like to correct the non-sense about the only place in the UK not to offer IVF.
There are three places to be precise and they are not in Yorkshire.
Plus 'playing with people's lives', there is other options including adoption plus the problems with IVF anyway. Ask a neurologist, they will tell you.
So again the Press, not getting the facts right from the start as to why, there have been many failures and the financial cost in the long term probably outweighs the benefits.Digeorge

The hypocrisy of this man is breathtaking!
He says he wants to become an MP to stop a postcode lottery in the NHS, yet HE is the man CREATING a postcode lottery in the NHS as boss of the CCG.
To wimp out of this decision because of his political ambition demonstrates he is UNFIT to be an MP.
Mind you with a Tory majority of over 12,000 in Selby, he's got about the same chance of becoming our MP as he has of winning 'York's most handsome GP' competition.

The hypocrisy of this man is breathtaking!
He says he wants to become an MP to stop a postcode lottery in the NHS, yet HE is the man CREATING a postcode lottery in the NHS as boss of the CCG.
To wimp out of this decision because of his political ambition demonstrates he is UNFIT to be an MP.
Mind you with a Tory majority of over 12,000 in Selby, he's got about the same chance of becoming our MP as he has of winning 'York's most handsome GP' competition.old_selebian

BethFoxhunter96 wrote:
Story here is there none. A prospective MP tries to remove himself from a highly political decision, which is quite the decent thing to do, and gets attacked by the tories. Sleeze was a word invented to describe Tories.

It shows he is unfit for the job

[quote][p][bold]BethFoxhunter96[/bold] wrote:
Story here is there none. A prospective MP tries to remove himself from a highly political decision, which is quite the decent thing to do, and gets attacked by the tories. Sleeze was a word invented to describe Tories.[/p][/quote]It shows he is unfit for the jobold_selebian

Why is it beth..when the word sleeze/ sleaze .is used i think of a certain mr bliar.and most of the worlds despots who this vile creature hangs about with.oh and the tory lot as well.bernie ecclestone comes to mind .i.m sure theres more beth n they are across the board..

Why is it beth..when the word sleeze/ sleaze .is used i think of a certain mr bliar.and most of the worlds despots who this vile creature hangs about with.oh and the tory lot as well.bernie ecclestone comes to mind .i.m sure theres more beth n they are across the board..piaggio1

old_selebian wrote:
The hypocrisy of this man is breathtaking!
He says he wants to become an MP to stop a postcode lottery in the NHS, yet HE is the man CREATING a postcode lottery in the NHS as boss of the CCG.
To wimp out of this decision because of his political ambition demonstrates he is UNFIT to be an MP.
Mind you with a Tory majority of over 12,000 in Selby, he's got about the same chance of becoming our MP as he has of winning 'York's most handsome GP' competition.

Seems perfectly suited to being an MP.. Spineless and creepy.. In it off the money!

[quote][p][bold]old_selebian[/bold] wrote:
The hypocrisy of this man is breathtaking!
He says he wants to become an MP to stop a postcode lottery in the NHS, yet HE is the man CREATING a postcode lottery in the NHS as boss of the CCG.
To wimp out of this decision because of his political ambition demonstrates he is UNFIT to be an MP.
Mind you with a Tory majority of over 12,000 in Selby, he's got about the same chance of becoming our MP as he has of winning 'York's most handsome GP' competition.[/p][/quote]Seems perfectly suited to being an MP.. Spineless and creepy.. In it off the money!Basher69

The real problem is the huge debt the CCG inherited when it was set up and which arose from both Labour and Tory goverments not recognising York was (and still is) underfunded for its demographic structure. Huge savings have had to be made and something had to give. It would be reasonable to ask what should have been given up instead - bearing in mind considerable changes in service provsion have already been made. Other areas in the country are generally not so badly affected and so can afford to finance IVF.

It is not fair to decribe Dr Hayes as a hypocrite but it is ery difficult to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. It is possible to hold a post under an adminsistration which allows privatisation of some services in certain circumstances while being a member of a party which declares its opposition. (Although Labour did privatise a significant range of NHS provision while in power!)

I woud suggest next time, if there is one, Dr Hayes should follow his conscience and actually vote rather than abstain.

The real problem is the huge debt the CCG inherited when it was set up and which arose from both Labour and Tory goverments not recognising York was (and still is) underfunded for its demographic structure. Huge savings have had to be made and something had to give. It would be reasonable to ask what should have been given up instead - bearing in mind considerable changes in service provsion have already been made. Other areas in the country are generally not so badly affected and so can afford to finance IVF.
It is not fair to decribe Dr Hayes as a hypocrite but it is ery difficult to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. It is possible to hold a post under an adminsistration which allows privatisation of some services in certain circumstances while being a member of a party which declares its opposition. (Although Labour did privatise a significant range of NHS provision while in power!)
I woud suggest next time, if there is one, Dr Hayes should follow his conscience and actually vote rather than abstain.Well I'll be blowed